This industrial modernist home was designed by Janof Architecture to take full advantage of its spectacular panoramic views, located on Seattle’s Queen Anne hill. The architects accommodated a modest budget for a family with two young children. The 5,663 square foot house honors the owner’s desire for a domestic refuge while maximizing the experience of its location. The front of the home presents a traditional facade from the street side, while the rear elevation features a modern facade of glass.

The architects planted two gabled, bearing-wall “houses” deep into the hillside. These contain rooms requiring enclosure, and they give the house the conventional street facade that the neighborhood deserves. The interiors were designed to create a warm and lively environment for family life and entertaining. The project received a National Certificate of Recognition from the American Institute of Steel Construction for its imaginative structural expression.

The budget required basic construction using off-the-shelf parts. Rigorous but un-precious detailing followed. The greatest technical effort went into the design of the two-story window wall: residential wood windows assembled as a true curtain wall.

Above: The kitchen is a warm and functional space, with custom designed walnut cabinetry, stainless steel, and extra-thick Calacatta marble countertops.

Above: Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast nook, which provides an eclectic feel and commanding city views. The mural was created by the homeowners specifically for the space.

Above: The dining room features soaring 19-foot-high ceilings, designed for spectacular nighttime views of the city.

Above: The exquisite powder bathroom room gets its charm from the custom wallpaper designed by the homeowners.

What We Love: This industrial modernist home offers plenty of incredible details throughout. The most standout feature is the dining room with its double story steel and glass window… the views are nothing short of spectacular! The home office is also fabulous, it makes working from home a treat with that incredible view… What do you think? Could you work from home if you lived here? Share your thoughts in the Comments below!

Above: The master bedroom offers remarkable views and has been made cozy thanks to the incorporation of a fireplace and subtly concealed lighting.

Above: This elegantly designed master bathroom features Callacatta and Carrera marble and polished nickel fittings.

Above: The home office boasts fabulous city and water views; light further penetrates into this space via a small dormer window above the desk.

Sustainability: The energy efficiency of the house was designed around the passive use of its southern orientation, with high-performance glass, cross-ventilating windows, and precisely calculated overhangs making air conditioning unnecessary this summer. The winter sun will bring warmth deep into the house, and the industrial-size fan above the dining room is designed to slowly move air throughout the house.

While the house meets Energy Star rating, much thought went into what sustainability really means. There is no bravura use of natural resources. Structural elements are sized at their calculated minimums. Precious materials were used sparingly, often where they would be touched by the user, and salvaged material was valued for its patina.

Above: The steel-framed “glass box” occupies the view facade of this home.